‘Temporary’ barriers at Woombye station replaced after 16 years

Plastic water barriers installed as a “temporary” safety measure at Woombye train station in 2009 have finally been replaced, following years of community lobbying and a recent approach to the State Government’s Community Cabinet.

Woombye resident James Kasmer said the red and white roadside barriers had originally been installed as part of temporary scaffold platform extensions commissioned in December 2009, after the station’s original platform could not accommodate six-car trainsets.

“The water barriers, as highlighted under Right to Information (RTI) investigation, were only meant for use no longer than 18 months,” Mr Kasmer said.

“In reality, the length of ‘temporary’ barriers stood for longer than 16 years.”

Mr Kasmer said he and Woombye Community and Business Association president Milo Frawley raised the matter directly with Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg at the State Government’s first Community Cabinet, held in Caloundra on March 8.

“There, at the Community Cabinet, we were afforded the time by Minister Mickelberg to put forward our case on two community issues relating to local transport,” he said.

“The first was the removal of the ‘temporary’ plastic water barriers installed along Blackall Street down near the train station and what can we do after 16 years to make the area more visually appealing whilst maintaining platform safety.”

Mr Kasmer said Queensland Rail representatives replaced the barriers on April 1 and 2 with concrete barriers and new chainwire fencing.

“I am very pleased to say that the new concrete barriers installed recently are such a big improvement over the plastic red and white water barriers,” he said.

Mr Kasmer said a second issue raised with the Minister related to rail stabling in Woombye, with concerns about airconditioning units running overnight on empty trains.

“Typically, aircon units are run between 10pm and 4am the next day with no break on empty trains,” he said.

“Apart from consistent night-time noise pollution which local residents have to endure, we queried why Qld Rail and TMR run power needlessly to train airconditioning units. It is such a waste of electricity from the grid.”

He said the community was still awaiting a response on that issue.

“The community is very grateful for the Minister and his team listening to our concerns and taking action on replacement of the plastic barriers with a more permanent solution,” Mr Kasmer said.

Temporary red and white water barriers, above, stood outside Woombye train station for more than 16 years before being replaced this month with concrete barriers and new chainwire fencing, below, after community lobbying.